continuing education for counselors

Ready to dive into the world of podcourses? In this episode, I'm going to break it down for you.

First things first, let's talk about the technical aspects. To create your own podcourse or self-study course, you'll need a learning management system. If you're just testing the waters and don't want to commit to a platform like Teachable or Kajabi right away, I recommend checking out FreshLearn (affiliate link).They have an all-in-one platform and offer a free trial for you to test it out and see if it suits your needs.

Now, let's discuss recording your content. Do you prefer audio, video, or both? Personally, I like to keep it simple and use Zoom to record my podcourses. Once I have the content, I pass it on to my editor, who works her magic on it. If you're a busy therapist like me, I highly recommend outsourcing the editing process. If you need help finding an editor, I can connect you with mine, Chelsea. She's fantastic and very helpful. Connect with Chelsea Weaver Podcasting.

Alright, let's move on to the content and the steps to get approved as a continuing education provider. I want to share a great resource with you—an episode by Dr. David Hall and James Marland called "Scaling Your Therapy Practice with Continuing Education Courses." They explain different ways to become an approved provider and provide valuable insights. I highly recommend giving it a listen after you finish here. 

Now, when it comes to content, I'll share what I did to get approved by NBCC (National Board for Certified Counselors). Head over to the NBCC website and explore their CE Provider information. It's all laid out there for you. It may take some time to read through it carefully and understand what you need to do, but it's not too difficult.

Here's a quick overview of what you'll need to know if you're aiming for self-study approved provider status. You must create your self-study course before applying. NBCC wants to see your course as a customer would experience it. This includes your landing page, sales page, course materials, and more.

Now, let's talk about choosing your topic. It's up to you, but I suggest starting with a topic that all therapists need. You'll also need to define your learning objectives, create a knowledge test, include a course evaluation, and offer a certificate of completion.

Who will present the material? Will it be you or someone else? Regardless, make sure to follow the NBCC guidelines for presenters. You can find all the details in the provider policy.

The amount of continuing education credit you offer depends on the length of your content. You'll need at least 60 minutes of content for 1 contact hour or 1 CE credit.

Once your course is ready, upload the content to your learning management system and test everything to ensure it works smoothly. Then, submit the course along with the necessary paperwork to NBCC and wait for their response. You may need to make some changes or edits to meet their requirements, but they are usually very helpful throughout the process.

If your course gets approved, they will provide instructions on how to proceed. Now it's time to market your course and hopefully start making sales. Remember, marketing is crucial, so be prepared to put in some effort to spread the word about your amazing courses.

I'll cover marketing in another episode and share what I've done to successfully sell my podcourses. Stay tuned for that!

I hope this episode has been helpful to you. If you're interested in getting continuing education going as a side income and want support from me, feel free to email me at lisa@lisamustard.com to set up a consultation. 

The Therapy Show with Lisa Mustard is sponsored by TherapyNotes!

Why not find out what more than 100,000 mental health professionals already know, and try TherapyNotes for 2 months, absolutely free. Click here: www.lisamustard.com/therapynotes or enter promo code “Lisa” at www.TherapyNotes.com.

Need continuing education contact hours? If so, then be sure to check out my Podcourses.

Want to pivot your skill set and generate more income? Looking to expand your services or create new ones? Grab my list of 50 ideas that can help you create an additional stream of revenue here: https://bit.ly/ideasformoreincome

See all my favorite and recommended Resources here.

Learn about Holistic Counseling with Chris McDonald, LCMHC - check out her trainings here.

Learn about the Psychcraft Network.

In this Podcourse, Lisa interviews David Aronson, LCSW and he presents Medical Marijuana: What Mental Health Clinicians Need to Know

Learning Objectives:

• Summarize the basic history of cannabis in the United States.

• Recognize the therapeutic benefits, side effects, and safety risks of THC and CBD use.

• Differentiate between medical, recreational and dependent or problematic marijuana use.

About David: In his work with the chronically ill, David was routinely asked questions about cannabis use, which led him to research the subject in-depth so he could better understand the impacts of cannabis use on his patients and provide them with better information and answers.

Since 2017, he has trained thousands of healthcare and mental health professionals throughout the country about cannabis so they too can better understand the impacts of cannabis on their patients' mental and physical health and ensure they are up to date on the legal and ethical issues that might affect their work. 

About Lisa Mustard: Lisa Mustard, MPH, EdS, LMFT has worked for a college counseling center, addiction recovery center and most recently has been working with a military branch for the past 12 years. In September 2022 she opened up a virtual coaching practice. She is the host of The Therapy Show with Lisa Mustard. She is also the Founder and Owner of Mustard Consulting, LLC. Lisa consults with and coaches other therapists who want to pivot their skill sets to make an impact outside the therapy room. 

Mustard Consulting, LLC has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7061. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Mustard Consulting, LLC is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

Remember, if you are enjoying this podcourse and would like to receive continuing education credit, head to the site, click on the Buy Now button and you can purchase the quiz and evaluation. Once you have completed the quiz and evaluation, you will receive a certificate of completion.You can also grab your first podcoure for half off -  head to my site to get your first one, half off!

Resources and references can be found inside the learning management system. They are available for those who purchase the podcourse.

Completion Requirements: To obtain your certificate of completion, you must listen entirely to the audio, pass the Podcourse completion quiz and complete a satisfaction survey.

Refund policy: No refunds are provided for self study courses.

Disclosure Statement for David Aronson; Financial: David Aronson receives a speaking honorarium from Mustard Consulting, LLC.

Thank you for listening! We hope you enjoy and find value in this Podcourse.

To see the FAQs on podcourses, click here.

The information shared in this episode is for educational purposes only. If you need professional help for cannabis issues, please contact a mental health provider.

Mental Health Resources and Support: 

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support via phone or chat for people in distress, resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals. Includes information on finding your local crisis center. Phone: 988 Website: http://suicidepreventionlifeline.org

SAMHSA’s National Helpline is a free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service (in English and Spanish) for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders. SAMHSA’s National Helpline | SAMHSA

It’s important to stress that these episodes are not meant to take the place of any work you’re doing with your therapist or doctor. In fact, please run these ideas by your counselor or doctor before you act on them to make sure you are ready for them or even fit for the suggestions. I can’t stress this enough, each person is unique and their situation is unique so please talk to your doctor before starting anything new I may be suggesting.

The Therapy Show with Lisa Mustard, and the information provided by Lisa Mustard, is solely intended for informational purposes and is not a substitute for advice, diagnosis, or treatment regarding medical or mental health conditions. Although Lisa Mustard is a licensed marriage and family therapist, the views expressed on this site or any related content should not be taken for medical or psychiatric advice. Always consult your physician before making any decisions related to your physical or mental health.

The Therapy Show with Lisa Mustard is sponsored by TherapyNotes!

Why not find out what more than 100,000 mental health professionals already know, and try TherapyNotes for 2 months, absolutely free. Click here: www.lisamustard.com/therapynotes or enter promo code “Lisa” at www.TherapyNotes.com.